When we moved to Dubai 18 months ago, I was focused on schools, homes, and settling in. I never stopped to ask: are we actually protected?
It took Reggie falling over and cutting his knee open at the weekend to make me realise – what else haven't we got covered? That's when I reached out to Ulas, a financial adviser with 20+ years of experience helping expat families, and asked him to unpack everything we need to know.
This is the stuff nobody talks about, but everyone needs to sort. Let me share what I learned.
Why Expats Forget the Basics
Here's the interesting thing Ulas told me straight away: setting up protection in the UAE isn't actually any different to the UK. Life insurance, wills, medical cover – it's all the same process.
So why don't people do it?
"For some reason, when people come to the UAE, it's like they forget. They had all this back home, but here they just don't do it. And unfortunately, in our line of work, we hear the horror stories." – Ulas
Don't wait for something to happen. Don't let that be the reason you finally get things in place – because nine times out of ten, it's already too late.
The Brilliant Basics Every Family Needs
Ulas broke it down really simply. Before you think about the future, you need to protect what's in place today. That's your foundation.
1. Life Insurance / Protection
Whether it's you or your partner who's the breadwinner – if you have children, if you have a mortgage – you need to make sure that if something happens, the people you love are protected.
Important to know: Life insurance here in the UAE is more expensive than the UK, and the process can be bureaucratic. But it's the same underwriters (Zurich, Friends Provident International) and the policies pay out properly.
2. Critical Illness Cover (CIC)
This is separate to life insurance. If you're into sports, go to brunches (and end up dancing on tables 😅), or just live an active life – if something happens and you're out of work for a while, who covers your income?
3. Total and Permanent Disability (TPD)
If you're playing football, in the gym, or anything physical – if something serious happens and you can't work, where does the money come from?
⚠️ Warning: Your UK Life Insurance Might Not Cover You
This was a wake-up call. Ulas said around 50% of expats who think they're covered by their UK policy... actually aren't.
"We've had situations where someone's been here 5-10 years, paying expensive premiums every month, believing they've got £1-2 million worth of cover – only to find out they were never covered the moment they left the UK."
What to do:
- Contact whoever set up your policy or the underwriter directly
- Ask if you're covered while living in the UAE
- Get it in writing – don't leave any grey areas
If your UK policy does cover you abroad and it's in writing, it may be cheaper to keep that than getting a new policy here.
Setting Up a Will in Dubai
I'll be honest – I've never had a will. Not in the UK, not here. And we've got stuff in accounts my wife has no idea about (not hiding anything, honey – she just wouldn't have a clue where to look).
Ulas made it crystal clear why this matters:
What Happens Without a Will?
You go through a process called probate. It's lengthy. It's costly. And when there's an estate being divided among family members, things often change – even with close families.
You avoid probate by having a will. Simple as that.
Your Options in Dubai
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIFC Wills | ~10,000-15,000 AED | Black and white. Whatever's in there, that's what happens. No lawyer needed to execute. |
| Dubai Courts | ~1,500 AED (~£300) | Cheaper, but may need a lawyer to execute (which adds cost later). |
| Abu Dhabi (ADGM) | Similar to DIFC | Recommended if you live in Abu Dhabi. |
Ulas's advice: In Dubai, do it via DIFC. In Abu Dhabi, do it via ADGM. You end up in the same place financially, but DIFC is cleaner.
Do You Need Separate Wills?
Yes. If you have assets in the UK, get a UK will. If you have assets here, get a UAE will. They should be completely separate documents.
The courts here have no jurisdiction over UK legislation, and vice versa. Keep it black and white – one will per country where you hold assets.
The Simple Thing Everyone Should Do
Before any legal stuff, Ulas suggested something beautifully simple:
"Have a folder. Everything's noted down. Bank accounts, pensions, investments. You have access, your wife has access. And maybe your father or brother – god forbid in the event of joint death – also has a copy."
Just a list. Where everything is held. Values don't matter – just knowing what exists and where.
UK Pensions: The Big Opportunity
This is where Ulas got really excited (and I could see why).
The tax treaty between the UAE and UK is incredibly favourable for UAE residents when it comes to pensions.
If You're 55+ and Have Been Out of the UK for 5+ Years:
You can draw 100% of your UK pension completely tax-free while living in the UAE.
The 5-year clock starts from when you leave the UK, not when you withdraw. The age requirement moves to 57 in 2028.
If You're Under 55:
- Once you've been non-UK resident for 12 months, you can't pay into a UK pension anymore
- Stop paying into your UK pension – you don't know if you'll be here when you're 57
- Set up something offshore (Isle of Man, Jersey) that grows tax-free while you're here
Also: You're not supposed to pay into a UK ISA once you're non-resident (though many people still do – it's hard to police).
🚨 US Stock Death Duties: The Hidden Tax
This one caught me off guard.
If you're a non-US person (no US passport, citizenship, or green card) and you hold direct US securities worth over $60,000 through platforms like Interactive Brokers, IG Index, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab...
In the event of death, your beneficiaries would have to pay US death duties of up to 40% on everything above $60,000.
How to avoid it: Move your holdings to an offshore platform (Isle of Man, Jersey) where the shares are held by a corporate entity and you're the beneficiary. You don't have to sell – just transfer.
Why don't people know this? Lack of knowledge. Once Ulas explains it, most people want to sort it immediately.
Why We All Wait Until 42
Ulas shared a fascinating stat: the average age of a new client approaching his company about retirement planning is 42 years old.
When they work out what income they want in retirement (usually around age 60-65), and calculate what they'd need to save monthly to achieve it...
87% of them can no longer afford to do it.
They've left it too late. The hill is too steep.
"Compounding can't work without time. The most crucial aspect to giving yourself a big pot of cash in the future is maximizing the time available to yourself."
What's Stopping People?
- It's not ingrained from a young age
- Financial literacy isn't taught in schools
- When you're 25, you're not talking about pensions with friends
- You feel invincible – until things happen to people around you
The Question That Changed My Thinking
Ulas asked me this:
"You drove here in a car that's 100% insured. Your house is insured. But do you have life insurance to protect your wife and children?"
My answer: No.
His response: "The people in your car – you've got to care about them more than the car."
He's right. I'm insuring my car because it's a legal requirement. But there's no legal requirement to protect my family – so I haven't done it. That's on me.
Pay Your Future Self First
This is the takeaway that stuck with me:
When you receive your salary, if you're not taking a portion and paying yourself first – for your future – you're crazy.
Your employer, if they had problems, would pay their shareholders, their electricity bill, their lease before you. You'd be last. So when you receive that money, pay your future self first. Then spend the rest.
"If someone says 'when should I have started?' the answer is always yesterday."
Quick Reference: What You Need to Do
| Action | Priority | How |
|---|---|---|
| Check UK life insurance covers UAE | 🔴 Urgent | Contact provider, get it in writing |
| Create asset list for family | 🔴 Urgent | Simple document listing all accounts |
| Set up UAE will | 🔴 Urgent | DIFC Wills (Dubai) or ADGM (Abu Dhabi) |
| Set up UK will (if UK assets) | 🟡 Important | Online via gov.uk (~£150) or solicitor |
| Review pension contributions | 🟡 Important | Stop UK pension, consider offshore |
| Check US stock holdings | 🟡 Important | Move to offshore structure if >$60k |
| Get life insurance/protection | 🟢 Do it | Contact adviser, compare options |
Get Help From Ulas
If you want to speak to someone who genuinely knows their stuff and won't give you the runaround, reach out to Ulas directly:
- Email: ulas.sadak@devere-acuma.com
- Phone: +971 50 692 6867
- Instagram: @ulassadak
He's happy to have a conversation whether there's business or not – his book is full enough that he can give guidance for free.
What I'm Doing Next
I made a deal with Ulas on camera: I'm going to get my affairs in order, work with him, and in six months come back on the mics to share exactly what I did, how I did it, and what the process looked like.
Consider it a live case study. If I can do it, you can too.
Have questions about protecting your family in Dubai? Drop them in the comments on the video, or take my neighbourhood quiz if you're still figuring out where to live.
And if you want hands-on help with your relocation, check out my relocation package – I'd love to help you get settled with confidence.